Dexfenfluramine

Chemical structure of Dexfenfluramine

Dexfenfluramine is a pharmaceutical drug that was used as an anorectic agent to aid in weight loss. It is the dextro isomer of fenfluramine, which was part of the anti-obesity medication combination known as fen-phen. Dexfenfluramine was marketed under the brand name Redux.

Pharmacology

Dexfenfluramine acts primarily as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor and serotonin releasing agent. By increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain, it promotes a feeling of satiety, thereby reducing appetite and caloric intake. This mechanism of action is similar to that of its racemic mixture, fenfluramine.

History

Dexfenfluramine was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996. It was marketed as a weight loss drug under the brand name Redux. However, due to concerns about its safety, particularly its association with valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension, it was withdrawn from the market in 1997.

Safety Concerns

The withdrawal of dexfenfluramine was primarily due to reports of heart valve damage and pulmonary hypertension in patients who used the drug. These adverse effects were thought to be related to the drug's action on serotonin receptors in the heart. The combination of fenfluramine and phentermine, known as fen-phen, was particularly implicated in these adverse effects.

Marketing and Withdrawal

Dexfenfluramine was marketed by Wyeth under the brand name Redux. Despite its initial popularity as a weight loss solution, the drug was voluntarily withdrawn from the market by the manufacturer in 1997 following the emergence of safety concerns.

Related pages

• Fenfluramine
• Phentermine
• Serotonin
• Anorectic
• Valvular heart disease

See also

• Obesity
• Appetite suppressant
• Pulmonary hypertension